Will's Race for Home

I've had Will's Race for Home by Jewell Parker Rhodes on my to-read list for forever, ever since it was on lists of possible Newbery winners and then won the Coretta Scott King Book Award. The book description says, "It’s 1889, barely twenty-five years after the Emancipation Proclamation, and a young Black family is tired of working on land they don’t get to own. So when Will and his father hear about an upcoming land rush, they set out on a journey from Texas to Oklahoma, racing thousands of others to the place where land is free—if they can get to it fast enough. But the journey isn’t easy—the terrain is rough, the bandits are brutal, and every interaction carries a heavy undercurrent of danger. And then there’s the stranger they encounter and befriend: a mysterious soldier named Caesar, whose Union emblem brings more attention—and more trouble—than any of them need. All three are propelled by the promise of something long denied to them: freedom, land ownership, and a place to call home—but is a strong will enough to get them there?"

This was a great read. I liked that it was a solid middle grade historical fiction read but fairly short (208 pages). I feel like that short length makes it more accessible to young kids. The book also captured a time period/historical events that I didn't know much about, so I enjoyed following the story and learning more about what it would have been like for these characters. I liked Will's independence, bravery, and resilience, and I found the story engaging and exciting. I think kids would enjoy the action. It'd be a fun classroom read aloud!

Rating: * * (2/3 = Liked it)

My Brother Oliver

I got My Brother Oliver by R.L. Toalson after seeing it on a new books list at the library. The book description says, "Brooks loves and adores his older brother, Oliver. That’s why it was so hard—practically impossible, really—for him to have done what he did and told his parents about what Oliver wanted to do. Now Oliver has been sent away. He’s miserable, and Brooks’s family is falling apart. His mom and dad are sad and scared, and it seems like nothing will ever be okay again. Maybe things would be better if Brooks had just kept his mouth shut. Can he and his family find the hope they need to keep going?"

This was a great read. I was completely engaged in the story, and the author did a great job portraying the two brothers. It was an interesting format where it jumped back and forth in time, but I think that helped the story build in a really important way. I found the book relatable and meaningful, and I think it'd be a great read to help people better understand mental illness. I really liked that the author was writing from her family's personal experience. This book was in between loved it and liked it--just know I really liked it!

Rating: * * (2/3 = Liked it)

Phoenix

I saw that Kimberly Brubaker Bradley had written a new book, so I got Phoenix (Book 1 of the Ride On series) from the library. The book description says, "Harper’s life has just exploded. Her parents are getting a divorce. And she suspects her best friend, Cat, may have known the reason for it long before she did. Now Harper and her mom are starting over in a cramped house, in a new town, where everything feels unfamiliar, including the riding barn next door. Harper’s never been around horses before. And no, she does not want to learn to ride—Until a truck dumps a starved and neglected horse right in Harper’s yard. Harper has no idea what to do with a live horse, let alone a nearly dead one. But one look at this horse’s huge eyes and skinny body, and something inside Harper unlocks. The horse is named Phoenix, she decides. And she will not give up on him. Neither, it turns out, will Phoenix give up on her. She doesn’t know it yet, but this is Harper’s first step—toward new friends, new challenges, new adventures. Toward riding."

This was a nice read. I liked that it was a short middle grade book (only 162 pages), which is hard to find. I really liked the characters and rooted for Harper as she sorted through some difficult situations and emotions. I would enjoy reading more the series and would recommend this to my kids. I didn't LOVE this book like I have some of the author's other books, but I still enjoyed the read and was engaged in the story. (P.S. I think technically this is an older middle grade book, like ages 10–14.)

Rating: * * (2/3 = Liked it)

A Year Without Home

I saw A Year Without Home by V.D. Bidania on a new book list and got it from the library. The book description says, "For eleven-year-old Gao Sheng, home is the lush, humid jungles and highlands of Laos. Home is where she can roll down the grassy hill with her younger siblings after her chores, walk to school, and pick ripe peaches from her family’s trees. But home becomes impossible to hold onto when the communist government takes over after U.S. troops pull out of the Vietnam War. The communists will be searching for any American allies, like Gao Sheng’s father, a Hmong captain in the Lao Army who fought alongside the Americans against the Vietnamese. If he’s caught, he’ll be killed. As the adults frantically make plans – contacting family, preparing a route, and bundling up their silver and gold, Gao Sheng wonders if she will ever return to her beloved Laos and what’s to become of her family now. Gao Sheng only knows that a good daughter doesn’t ask questions or complain. A good daughter doesn’t let her family down. Even though sometimes, she wishes she could be just a kid rolling down a grassy hill again. On foot, by taxi and finally in a canoe, Gao Sheng and her family make haste from the mountains to the capitol Vientiane and across the rushing Mekong River, to finally arrive at an overcrowded refugee camp in Thailand. As a year passes at the camp, Gao Sheng discovers how to rebuild home no matter where she is and finally find her voice."

This was a great read. It took me awhile to get through (which is surprising since it's written in verse and I usually breeze through these kinds of books), but once I got into it, I was engaged and kept wanting to pick it up. I was not sure to put this book as liked or loved, but once I finished and then read the Author's Note, it definitely moved into loved as I learned about the experiences being based on her family's real experience. I thought it was a powerful story, and the author wrote it perfectly well for children -- they can  understand the experiences of a refugee, but the book is never too heavy for this audience. I loved how the author portrayed Gao Sheng's feelings and her desire to find her place. I would definitely recommend this book to others.

Rating: * * * (3/3 = Loved it)

Haven

I read Haven: A Small Cat's Big Adventure by Megan Wagner Lloyd for consideration for Ollie's school Every Lion, One Book program in the future and then ended up selecting it for my kids' book club--so read it a second time aloud to Ollie. The book description says, "A warm, cozy lap. The toasty smell of baking bread. Tasty food served in a bright-blue bowl. These make Haven’s life as an indoor pet heaven. All thanks to her beloved human and rescuer, Ma Millie. But when Ma Millie becomes too sick to care for her, the cat’s cozy life is turned upside down, and Haven decides she must seek out another human for help. Anything for Ma Millie! Her vow pulls her out of her safe nest into the shadowy forest and down unfamiliar and dangerous roads. When her first plan fails, Haven meets a wilderness-savvy fox who volunteers as an ally, and their perilous journey together brings some victories. But Haven finds herself pitted against creatures far wilder than she ever could be, testing her strength and spirit to their limits. Will her loyalty to Ma Millie—and her newfound confidence in herself—be enough to help Haven see the quest through to its conclusion? Can she stand up against the fierce predator that is tracking her every move?"

This is a really sweet book. When I read it to Ollie, I ended up pretty much bawling near the end and it was hard to get through it. But I thought this was just a beautiful read with an engaging story for kids. I liked it the first time I read it earlier in the month but probably liked it even more reading it with Ollie. The book was well written and exciting with likable characters.

Rating: * * * (3/3 = Loved it)

Anne of Green Gables

I know I already have this book on the blog, but I read it again for book club. (Someone chose it who had never read it before.) The book description says, "For generations, readers have been charmed by the special world of Green Gables, an old-fashioned farm outside a town called Avonlea. Eleven-year-old Anne Shirley has arrived in this verdant corner of Prince Edward Island only to discover that the Cuthberts—elderly Matthew and his stern sister, Marilla—want to adopt a boy, not a feisty redheaded girl. But before they can send her back, Anne—who simply must have more scope for her imagination and a real home—wins them over completely."

This book was just a complete delight. I had forgotten how great it was, and it was just the joy I needed in my life. I honestly just kept thinking as I read it, "I love this book. Anne is just delightful." She would make me laugh out loud. Anne is just the most distinct, lovable character with so much personality. I loved reading this book.

* * * (3/3 = Loved it)

The Burning Season

I saw The Burning Season by Caroline Starr Rose on a list of potential Newbery contenders and so got it from the library. The book description says, "Twelve-year-old Opal has a secret: she’s deathly afraid of fire. Still Opal is preparing to become a fourth-generation lookout on Wolf Mountain, deep in the New Mexico wilderness. She, Mom, and Gran live at ten thousand feet in a single room at the top of a fire tower. They are responsible for spotting any hint of smoke before it becomes an uncontrollable blaze. Instead of training for the lonely life of a lookout, Opal wishes she could be starting seventh grade in Silver City, attending real classes with kids her own age and even going to afterschool clubs like FFA. But Wolf Mountain has other ideas. When Mom makes the long trek to town for supplies and Gran goes missing, Opal is the only one to spot a tell-tale spiral of smoke moving up the mountainside. She’ll have to be braver than she’s ever been as she heads into the woods, beyond Wolf Ridge’s old blackened burn scar, to face down a fire on her own. But when a fire is what took her father away, and Opal herself knows the sting of smoke and lick of flames, how can she be brave enough when it really counts?"

This was a good read. The story kept me interested, and I liked Opal as a character. I thought it was fun to see her draw connections and inspiration from Hatchet and Brian's Winter, books I enjoyed as a kid as well (but I didn't live out in nature like she does!). It was a really unique story premise, which I enjoyed. I thought the verse format wasn't as good as some books in verse, and I'm not sure why. It just gave a bit more of a choppier vibe, but I know the author is a capable verse writer since I liked her book May B as well. I liked how the book came together in the end, which made me like it a little more (originally this was maybe more of an "it was okay" book).

Rating: * * (2/3 = Liked it)

Zarina Divided

I saw Reem Faruqi had a new book out, so I got Zarina Divided from the library. The books description says, "Zarina loves her life in Poona, India. She spends her days happily hanging out with her best friends, Geeta and Jahana, and playing with her three brothers. However, Zarina and her family are given unsettling news: Muslims and Hindus are to separate by religion. Hindus are expected to stay in India, while Muslims are expected to move to a new land, Pakistan. Zarina is heartbroken at having to move away from all she knows and loves, and after the frightening journey to Pakistan, she feels unsure that the unfamiliar country will ever feel like home. When an accident happens that leaves Zarina grappling with extreme guilt, she decides it’s best to attend boarding school far away, much to the protest of her mom. Will a fresh start at a new school give Zarina the chance to thrive in Pakistan, or will the divisions within herself and her family continue to widen?"

This was such a great read! It was a super quick read since it was written in verse (probably just took me an hour), but I loved the characters and the storyline. I didn't know much about the partition in India, so it was great to learn more--plus it was super cool that this was based on the experiences of the author's grandmother. I thought the author did a great job portraying the difficulties of the experiences surrounding the partition in a middle grade–appropriate way. This one was really close to loved it. I definitely would recommend this to others.

Rating: * * (2/3 = Liked it)

Lost Evangeline

I got Lost Evangeline by Kate DiCamillo from the library since it's the brand new third book in the Norendy Tales collection (not really a series since they're all different stories but they all take place in the same magical land). The book description says, "When a shoemaker discovers a tiny girl (as small as a mouse!) in his shop, he takes her in, names her Evangeline, and raises her as his own. The shoemaker’s wife, however, fears that Evangeline has bewitched her husband, so when an opportunity arises to rid herself of the girl, she takes it. Evangeline finds herself far from her adopted father and her home, a tiny girl lost in the wide world. But she is brave, and she is resourceful, and with the help of those she meets on her journey—including a disdainful and self-satisfied cat—she may just find her way again."

This was another beautifully written book, as Kate DiCamillo's books always are. I thought it was a sweet story with a character to root for and some fun adventures. I wished the ending had been more conclusive, but it kinda fit the vibes of the other books in this collection. I thought this was a nice, quick read.

Rating: * * (2/3 = Liked it)

A Perfect Mistake

I saw A Perfect Mistake by Melanie Conklin on the Virginia Readers' Choice list for this year for middle school books. The book description says, "Max wishes he could go back in time to before he was diagnosed with ADHD, before he grew to be the tallest kid in his class, and before he and his best friends went into the woods in the middle of the night. Max doesn’t remember what happened after he left his friends Will and Joey and the older kids who took them there. He’s not sure if he wants to remember. Knowing isn’t going to make Joey talk to him again, or bring Will out of his coma. When the local authorities run out of leads, Max realizes that without his help, they may never know what really happened to Will. Charged by the idea that he may be the key to uncovering the truth, Max pairs up with classmate and aspiring journalist Sam to investigate what really happened that night. But not everyone in the community wants that night to be remembered."

This was definitely an engaging story that I wanted to keep reading to see what really happened, but the book was also really hard for me to read because Max really just needed to talk to adults about things he knew. I spent a lot of the book frustrated and just trying to keep reading to see if he'd just get help. Also, the ending didn't really seem super realistic (like some people lied and did bad stuff and it didn't seem like anyone really got in much trouble--just some plot gaps it felt like). I did really like Max's uncle Cal as a character and Max's relationship with his therapist, and I thought the book did a great job helping the reader understand ADHD.

Rating: * (1/3 = It was okay)

The Turtle of Oman

I've had The Turtle of Oman by Naomi Shihab Nye on my to-read list for awhile and recently got it on Kindle from the library. The book description says, "Aref does not want to leave Oman. He does not want to leave his elementary school, his friends, or his beloved grandfather, Sidi. He does not want to live in Ann Arbor, Michigan, where his parents will go to graduate school. His mother is desperate for him to pack his suitcase—but he refuses. Finally, she calls Sidi for help. But rather than pack, Aref and Sidi go on a series of adventures. They visit the camp of a thousand stars deep in the desert, they sleep on Sidi’s roof, they fish in the Gulf of Oman and dream about going to India, they travel to the nature reserve to watch the sea turtles. At each stop, Sidi finds a small stone that he later slips into Aref’s suitcase—mementos of home."

This was a beautiful read. I don't even know what it was, but it was just a gentle, happy book that addressed the hard things Aref was facing by showing the love and wisdom of his grandfather. I felt like the book was just so beautifully written, and then I saw at the end that the author was a former Young People's Poet Laureate, which makes a lot of sense. I just loved Sidi (Aref's grandfather) and the adventures they went on and the things they experienced and commented on. I also loved the introduction it gave me to Oman and their culture. This was just such a unique read, and I can't quite put my finger on why. But I really liked it.

* * * (3/3 = Loved it)

Please Pay Attention

I saw Please Pay Attention by Jamie Sumner on a new book list at the library and put it on hold since I've read another book by the author (Roll with It). The book description says, "There is a Before and an After for sixth grader Bea Coughlin. Before the shooting at her school that took the lives of her classmates and teacher and After, when she must figure out how to grieve, live, and keep rolling forward. But as her community rallies in a tidal wave of marches and speeches and protests, Bea can’t get past the helplessness she felt in her wheelchair as others around her took cover. Through the help of therapeutic horseback riding, Bea finally begins to feel like herself again. And as she heals, she finds her voice and the bravery to demand change."

The timing of this book was weird because I got the book and started it and then there was a school shooting this week at a Christian school (and Bea attends a Christian school). It made this book feel a little too close to real-life, but it was a gentle read and more focused on Bea's ability to overcome the trauma and her decision to speak up for things to change. I liked the verse format of the book and liked following Bea as a character. I also enjoyed seeing the power of horse therapy. The author's note at the end was meaningful since the author lost a close friend to a school shooting.

Rating: * * (2/3 = Liked it)

The Shape of Thunder

When I recently finished a book by Jasmine Warga, I saw The Shape of Thunder listed as another book she'd written, so I got it from the library on Kindle. The book description says, "Cora hasn’t spoken to her best friend, Quinn, in a year. Despite living next door to each other, they exist in separate worlds of grief. Cora is still grappling with the death of her beloved sister in a school shooting, and Quinn is carrying the guilt of what her brother did. On the day of Cora’s twelfth birthday, Quinn leaves a box on her doorstep with a note. She has decided that the only way to fix things is to go back in time to the moment before her brother changed all their lives forever—and stop him. In spite of herself, Cora wants to believe. And so the two former friends begin working together to open a wormhole in the fabric of the universe. But as they attempt to unravel the mysteries of time travel to save their siblings, they learn that the magic of their friendship may actually be the key to saving themselves."

This was a great read. The book switched back and forth between perspectives (which took me awhile to keep track of which name went with which character), but it was a good format for the story. I thought the author did a great job with character development and helping the reader know and understand each girl and what she was going through. I really felt for each of them. The book got me teary-eyed in the end, and I liked how things came together. It was definitely an engaging and meaningful story. It was close to a "loved it," but I'll leave it as "liked it."

* * (2/3 = Liked it)

Whale Eyes

I saw Whale Eyes: A Memoir About Seeing and Being Seen by James Robinson on a new book list and got it from the library. This book is about the author's experience with strabismus, an eye condition. The author created an Emmy-nominated short film by the same name, and this book is expanding on the same topic. The book is interactive (trying a vision test, for example), and the book description says, "James’s story equips readers of all ages with the tools to confront their discomfort with disability and turn confused, blank stares into powerful connections."

This was an interesting read. Right when I started the book, I decided to go watch the video he had made, and that really got me invested in his story. The book helped me understand how to respectfully approach interactions with someone who has strabismus or similar eye conditions (just look into the eye that is looking at you!), and it helped me understand what it would be like to grow up like he did. I liked following his journey into the documentary world and then watched a couple of the other memoir-style documentaries he created about people with disabilities on NYT (face blindness and stuttering). They were so great! Overall this was a good read but best for 10+ due to a spoiler about something my 8-year-old still believes in. :) I think kids will enjoy the pictures and interactive nature of the book.

Rating: * * (2/3 = Liked it)

A Rover's Story

My sister recommended A Rover's Story by Jasmine Warga. Even though she hasn't read it, she heard Jasmine Warga speak at a conference about this book, and I loved the author's book Other Words for Home. The book description says, "Meet Resilience, a Mars rover determined to live up to his name. Res was built to explore Mars. He was not built to have human emotions. But as he learns new things from the NASA scientists who assemble him, he begins to develop humanlike feelings. Maybe there’s a problem with his programming…. Human emotions or not, launch day comes, and Res blasts off to Mars, accompanied by a friendly drone helicopter named Fly. But Res quickly discovers that Mars is a dangerous place filled with dust storms and giant cliffs. As he navigates Mars’s difficult landscape, Res is tested in ways that go beyond space exploration. As millions of people back on Earth follow his progress, will Res have the determination, courage, and resilience to succeed…and survive?"

This was a fun read. I enjoyed the perspective of Res (kinda similar to a book like The Wild Robot), and I liked how it switched off with letters from Sophie as well. I really liked the human characters (Rania and Xander) and their relationship with Res, and I also liked both Res and his drone Fly and their unique personalities.  I thought this was a fun book to follow the story as so much time passed.

Rating: * * (2/3 = Liked it)

The Gate, the Girl, and the Dragon

I am a fan of Grace Lin, so I got her new book The Gate, the Girl, and the Dragon from the library. The book description says, "Jin is a Stone Lion—one of the guardians of the Old City Gate who is charged to watch over humans and protect the Sacred Sphere. But to Jin, those boring duties feel like a waste of time.
What isn’t a waste of time? Perfecting his zuqiu kick, scoring a Golden Goal, and becoming the most legendary player of all the spirit world. But when Jin’s perfect kick accidentally knocks the Sacred Sphere out through the gate, he has no choice but to run after it, tumbling out of the realm he calls home and into the human world as the gate closes behind him. Stuck outside the gate, Jin must find help from unlikely allies, including a girl who can hear a mysterious voice and a worm who claims he is a dragon. Together, they must find the sphere and return it to the world beyond the gate…or risk losing everything."

This book was surprisingly hard for me to get into. It just was a slow read for me that I kind of had to force myself to keep reading. Because I know Grace Lin's books were great, I didn't want to give up on it so kept plugging along. I got more into it by the last 2/3 of the book and then was interested to see how things would come together. I liked the main characters (Jin, Lulu, and Worm) and thought it was fun to have all the Chinese folklore guiding the book. I also really liked the illustrations. I do think this would be a fun read aloud with kids. 

Rating: * * (2/3 = Liked it)

Summer at Squee

I saw Summer at Squee by Andrea Wang recommended somewhere as a new-ish middle grade book and so got it on Kindle. The book description says, "Phoenny Fang plans to have the best summer ever. She’s returning to Summertime Chinese Culture, Wellness, and Enrichment Experience (SCCWEE for short and 'Squee' to campers in the know), and this year she’s a senior camper. That means she; her best friend, Lyrica Chu; and her whole Squad will have the most influence. It almost doesn’t matter that her brother is a CIT (counselor-in-training) and that her mom and auntie are the camp directors. Time spent at Squee is sacred, glorious, and free. On the day Phoenny arrives, though, she learns that the Squad has been split up, and there’s an influx of new campers this year. Phoenny is determined to be welcoming and to share all the things she loves about camp—who doesn’t love spending hours talking about and engaging in cultural activities? But she quickly learns how out of touch she is with others’ experiences, particularly of the campers who are adoptees. The same things that make her feel connected to her culture and community make some of the other campers feel excluded. Summer at Squee turns out to be even more transformative than Phoenny could’ve imagined, with new friendships, her first crush, an epic show, and a bigger love for and understanding of her community."

This was a good read. I enjoyed Phee's character and her growth as a character. I liked learning about Chinese Culture through the Squee camp and getting a perspective of what it'd be like to be a Chinese-American child/teen. The book had lots of friendship issues the kids work through, which I think is good for middle grade readers to see and learn from.

Rating: * * (2/3 = Liked it)

Scattergood

I read Scattergood by H.M. Bouwman after seeing it recommended on one of the children's book pages I follow on social media. The book description says, "Growing up a farm girl, Peggy’s life has never been particularly exciting. But a lot changes in 1941. Her friend Joe starts acting strange around her. The Quaker hostel nearby reopens to house Jewish refugees from Europe, including a handsome boy named Gunther and a troubled professor of nothing. And her cousin and best friend, Delia, is diagnosed with leukemia—and doesn’t even know it. Peggy has always been rational. She may not be able to understand poetry and speak in metaphors like Delia, but she has to believe she can find a way out of this mess, for both of them. There has to be a cure. And yet the more she tries to control, the more powerless she feels. She can’t make Gunther see her the way she sees him. She can’t help the Professor find his missing daughter. She’s tired of feeling young and naive, but growing up is proving even worse."

This was a really good read. I was super engaged in the story (enough that I had to return it to the library when it was overdue, so I went through the effort to put it on hold again and find my spot and continue reading). The book was heavy at times and had so many bad/sad/hard things happening that it was almost too much to bear. But things came around enough that I still loved the book. The characters were really real and complex, and I really loved Peggy. The book had me crying in the end (but I was sitting in public while my son had a class, so I had to keep it together) and just had some beautiful parts at the end. I really liked the part with Peggy and her mom where the mom said, "I think--I think it's okay to be mad at God....I think God can take our anger." Peggy responded, "I'm not mad at God....Not anymore....I don't believe in God." And her mom replied, "Well, I think God can take that, too."

Rating: * * * (3/3 = Loved it)

The Wrong Way Home

The Wrong Way Home by Kate O'Shaughnessy has been on my to-read list ever since it won the Newbery honor this year, and I finally got it from the library to read on my Kindle. The book description says, "Fern’s lived at the Ranch, an off-the-grid, sustainable community in upstate New York, since she was six. The work is hard, but Fern admires the Ranch's leader, Dr. Ben. So when Fern’s mother sneaks them away in the middle of the night and says Dr. Ben is dangerous, Fern doesn't believe it. She wants desperately to go back, but her mom just keeps driving. Suddenly thrust into the treacherous, toxic, outside world, Fern can think only of how to get home. She has a plan, but it will take time. As that time goes by, though, Fern realizes there are things she will miss from this place—the library, a friend from school, the ocean—and there are things she learned at the Ranch that are just...not true. Now Fern will have to decide. How much is she willing to give up to return to the Ranch? Should she trust Dr. Ben’s vision for her life? Or listen to the growing feeling that she can live by her own rules?"

This was such a good read! I was engaged from the very beginning and loved following the story. There were great characters, some great/stressful action, and meaningful lessons learned. I loved Fern and enjoyed watching her figure out herself and her strengths. I definitely think this was a well-deserved Newbery and one I'll recommend to my daughter.

Rating: * * * (3/3 = Loved it)

The Trouble with Heroes

I read The Trouble with Heroes by Kate Messner after seeing it recommended on one of the children's book accounts I follow on social media. The book description says, "Finn Connelly is nothing like his dad, a star athlete and firefighter hero who always ran toward danger until he died two years ago. Finn is about to fail seventh grade and has never made headlines . . . until now. Caught on camera vandalizing a cemetery, he's in big trouble for knocking down some dead old lady's headstone. Turns out that grave belongs to a legendary local mountain climber, and her daughter makes Finn an unusual offer: she'll drop all the charges if he agrees to climb all forty-six Adirondack High Peaks in a single summer. And there's just one more thing--he has to bring along the dead woman's dog. In a wild three months of misadventures, mountain mud, and unexpected mentors, Finn begins to find his way on the trails. At the top of each peak, he can see for miles and slowly begins to understand more about himself and his dad. But the mountains don't care about any of that, and as the clock ticks down to September, they have more surprises in store. Finn's final summit challenge may be more than even a hero can face."

This was a great read. The story was super engaging, and it was one of those books with a beautiful character arc where you get to watch a character grow and change. I loved the premise of the book (paying back his mistake by climbing the peaks) and the message about the power of being out in nature. I liked that the author herself has climbed the 46 Adirondack High Peaks as well. The book also had some great side characters and some cool ways things came together in the end. This book was kinda in between liked it and loved it, but I think it made it into the loved it level.

Rating: * * * (3/3 = Loved it)